Two-factor authentication means "something you know" (like a password) and "something you have," which can be an object like a phone. Here's a simple video about how it works:

I often hear the same questions or objections when I recommend two-factor authentication. Jeff Atwood has done a good job of debunking common misperceptions—check out his post, which even has pictures. But here are some misconceptions that I hear, along with the reality:

Myth #1: But what if my cell phone doesn't have SMS/signal, or I'm in a foreign country?Reality: You can install a standalone app called Google Authenticator (it's also available in the App Store), so your cell phone doesn't need a signal.

Myth #2: Okay, but what about if my cell phone runs out of power, or my phone is stolen?Reality: You can print out a small piece of paper with 10 one-time rescue codes and put that in your wallet. Use those one-time codes to log in even without your phone.

Myth #3: Don't I have to fiddle with an extra PIN every time I log in?Reality: You can tell Google to trust your computer for 30 days and sometimes even longer.

Myth #4: I heard two-factor authentication doesn't work with POP and IMAP?Reality: You can still use two-factor authentication even with POP and IMAP. You create a special "application-specific password" that your mail client can use instead of your regular password. You can revoke application-specific passwords at any time.

Myth #5: Okay, but what if I want to verify how secure Google Authenticator is?Reality: Google Authenticator is free, open-source, and based on openstandards.

One last tip: use a different password on Gmail/Google than on other services. If you reuse a password and a hacker cracks into one company, they can use the same password to crack into your Google account.

Please don't wait to turn on 2-step verification. It's not that hard, and it will really protect your account. Why not set up two-step authentication right now?